The Irish Lights tender Granuaile carried out its first emergency tow in Irish waters at the weekend when it rescued a drifting Russian vessel with six crew on board off Antrim.
The 82m Belgian-registered ship Sesam was towed into Belfast Lough by the Irish Lights ship yesterday after it got into difficulties in a southeasterly gale on Saturday.
Granuaile's master, Capt Dermot Gray, said a potentially serious incident was avoided as the ship was drifting towards the Antrim coast at one point. "We could have been talking about danger to life and pollution, given the conditions," Capt Gray told The Irish Times.
The ship issued its first call at lunchtime on Saturday when it lost power west of the Isle of Man while en route from Bromborough, near Liverpool, to Coleraine.
The ship had a cargo of steel coils. Its progress was monitored by both Liverpool and Belfast coastguards throughout Saturday, while the vessel's owners and agents tried to locate suitable tugs in the area.
Belfast Coastguard said there were some language difficulties initially, but it was then ascertained the ship had 30 tonnes of bunker fuel on board.
The assistance of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, which is responsible for lighthouses around the island of Ireland, was sought on Saturday night.
Capt Gray said there was a "good sea running" with force seven southeasterly winds gusting to force eight when it located the Russian ship at about 8.45am yesterday about 10 miles east of Mew Island. At this stage the ship was drifting northwards, he said.
RNLI lifeboats from Larne and Donaghadee assisted with transferring a line on board, and the ship was taken into tow to Belfast Lough where it was anchored off Bangor for engine repairs.